13

H.—l2

Fencing Paddocks and Laying Down in Grass. —At Opepe, 25 chains of two-rail fencing have been put up on the road to Eunanga, towards making a new paddock, which, when completed, will contain about 100 acres. There are split in the bush at present a large quantity of posts and rails, intended to complete this fencing. About five acres of bush land have been cleared; grass has been laid down in both paddocks, and in about seven acres of bush land adjoining the stockade. At Tapuaeharuru, 13 chains of post and rail fence have been erected, enclosing four acres, in addition to the twenty acres last year, making a total of fifty-four acres enclosed in post and rail fence. This has been all cleared, and is ready for laying down in grass. There have been 20 chains of a swamp drained, taking in two acres for a garden, in addition to the old garden last year. The ground was very swampy, and could only be worked in very dry weather. At Tarawera. —Fencing kept in repair. A new paddock is in course of creation, which, wh en completed, will comprise about 100 acres. At Eunanga, the garden was fenced, paddock enlarged, 600 posts and rails split, and 20 chains of new fencing erected. The fencing of the old paddocks at each station has been kept in repair, and renewed when the decaying or breaking of any of the posts or rails rendered it necessary. The non-commissioned officer and man stationed at Te Haroto are constantly employed at the paddock there in repairing fence and clearing away fallen timber. Eemaeks. Two drays and five draught horses, in charge of members of the force, are kept constantly employed in conveying oats from Eunanga to Opepe and Tapuaeharuru, and in conveying fencing, building, and other material from Opepe to Tapuaeharuru. Six pack-horses, in charge of the mounted men of the force, who take this duty in turn, have been continuously employed between Napier and Opepe, a distance of eighty-four miles, in conveying clothing, necessaries, stores, nails, medicine, saddlers' material for repair of saddlery and harness, horse shoes and nails, ammunition, camp equipment, stationery, &c, &c. One man is employed as farrier and one as saddler. These men do all the work of the district required by their respective trades, such as keeping the whole of the horses regularly shod, repairing riding and pack-saddles, harness, &c. Another man has been kept constantly employed at his trade as a mason in the erection of chimneys (pumice), and magazines of the same material, at the various stations. The two Government whaleboats at Tapuaeharuru, manned by members of the force, are occasionally despatched on various duties across the lake. His Excellency the Governor Sir James Fergusson passed through Taupo on a tour through the Lake District in the early part of March. Large vegetable gardens are cultivated yearly at each post for the use of the officers and men of the for?e only. During the Colonial Government Prize Firing, which took place at Napier, five men and one noncommissioned officer were employed as markers. Two mounted orderlies were detailedfor attendance on Major Gordon, in charge of the firing. I have, Ac, The Commissioner, D. Scankeh, Inspector, A.C., Armed Constabulary Force, Wellington. Commanding Taupo District.

Enclosure 7. Inspector Eobeets to the Commissioner, Armed Constabulary Force. Sib, — District Office, Tauranga, 3rd June, 1874. In compliance with instructions contained in Circular No. 145, of the 30th March, 1874, I have the honor to forward for your information the following report of the duties performed by the Armed Constabulary Force in the Tauranga district, from the Ist June, 1873, to the 31st May, 1874:— Militaet Duties. Average Strength of Officers and Men. —One inspector, 2 sub-inspectors, 1 assistant-surgeon, and 47 non-commissioned officers and men. Nature of Parades and Drills. —Divine service parades every Sunday, and heavy marching order parades and drill for one hour and a half each week throughout the year. On different occasions the officers and men have been recalled from road works for a fortnight's consecutive drill; each drill lasting one hour and a half, three times daily. Besides, the whole of the men have been put through a course of musketry instruction. Carrying Mails and Despatches. —Mails and despatches have been conveyed with regularity once a week, by mounted orderlies from head-quarters, to and from Opotiki and the intermediate stations. Escorts and Guards. —An escort of mounted men was supplied to His Excellency the Governor on his recent visit to the district. Mounted constables have been frequently employed as guides to gentlemen accredited by the Government. Prisoners sent to Auckland under sentence or for trial are conducted by members of the force. One constable is on guard at each station. Making and Improving Target Ranges. —The range at Opotiki has been greatly improved and put into thorough order. A great amount of labour has been bestowed upon the butts of the Tauranga range, which require to be constantly attended to, owing to the action of high tides, &c. Telegraph Linemen. — The services of the Armed Constabulary have not been required, the Telegraph Department furnishing their own linemen. Issuers and Storekeepers.—Three storekeepers have been employed—one at Tauranga, one at Opotiki, and one at Te Teko, the latter aiso acting as issuer to the Native Contingent at that post.